Bakersfied Christian at Tehachapi
Friday, November 2, 2007
Warrior Kelly Lorenz races for a big gain against a host of Bakersfield Christian defenders in last Friday nights 41-7
Warrior victory. The explosive Warrior offense is averaging 35.2 points per game, the highest scoring average of any
Warrior team since 1951. Photo by Mike Duffy, Summit Photography
Posted by Jeff Evans, The Bakersfield Californian on November 3, 2007 Tehachapi Crowned King of the SSL
Season Log Now at 9-1; 5-0 in SSL
TEHACHAPI -- It was competitive through the first quarter Friday night, but Tehachapi quickly made it a rout after that.
The Warriors concluded an undefeated run through the South Sequoia League by downing Bakersfield Christian 41-7, giving Tehachapi an outright league title and likely top seed in the Central Section Division III playoffs when the seeding is announced today.
"They played well together and had good chemistry," Tehachapi coach Steve Denman said of his squad, which concluded the regular season with a 9-1 record (5-0 SSL).
"We tell the kids we play a tough pre-season schedule to help us prepare for league."
Tehachapi hurt Bakersfield Christian (8-2, 3-2 SSL) with big plays. It started early, when Adam Mullen put the Warriors ahead 7-0 with a 39-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game.
The Eagles quickly responded. James Peterson, who replaced his brother Jake as the BCHS starting quarterback, had a nifty run for a 25-yard TD on the Eagles' first drive, tying it 7-7. Jake Peterson, who didn't play in the second half of the previous Friday's loss to Taft because of a concussion, did not suit up for this game.
"They had us back on our heels," Alek Taliulu,Tehachapi's senior middle linebacker, said of the game-tying score. "They showed us they could score quickly. We just had to shut them down and take away the momentum."
Tehachapi did that in the second quarter, scoring 21 points for a 28-7 halftime lead. The Warriors stunned BCHS when quarterback Ehren Ochsenrider pump faked, then threw a perfect bomb to speedy Frankie Rodriguez, who had gotten behind the defense. Rodriguez caught the pass in stride and completed the 71-yard pass play for the touchdown that put the Warriors ahead to stay.
Kelly Lorenz added TD runs of 1 and 23 yards later in the second quarter, and Mullen made it a rout with TD runs of 84 and 73 yards before the third quarter was four minutes old.
BCHS coach Doug Barnett stressed to his team that they can't be demoralized by the lopsided losses the last two weeks.
"We are still a very good football team," he said. "Our (regular) season is over now. We've got an opportunity to do some nice things now (in the Division V playoffs)."
In addition to Jake Peterson, the Eagles were missing center Taylor Roche and slot Kyle McGiffney because of injuries. All three are expected to return for the playoffs, Barnett said.
Starting left tackle Nathan VandenBerg was lost for the season against Tehachapi when he suffered a broken right arm trying to make a tackle following an interception. He was removed from the field in an ambulance.
Tehachapi started six drives through three quarters in Eagles' territory. BCHS also lost three fumbles and had two interceptions.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final Bakersfield Christian 7 0 0 0 07 Tehachapi 7 21 13 0 41
The Scoring:
First Quarter:
Tehachapi (6:30) - Mullen 39 yd TD RUN (Ochsenrider PAT)
Bakersfield Christian (4:26) - Peterson 25 yd TD RUN (Gallington PAT)
Second Quarter:
Tehachapi (10:51) - Rodriguez 71 yd TD PASS from Ochsenrider (Ochsenrider PAT)
Tehachapi (7:56) - Lorenz 1 yd TD RUN (Ochsenrider PAT)
Tehachapi (2:13) - Lorenz 23 yd TD RUN (Ochsenrider PAT)
Third Quarter:
Tehachapi (11:37) - Mullen 84 yd TD RUN (Ochsenrider PAT)
Tehachapi (8:16) - Mullen 73 yd TD RUN (PAT Failed)
BCHS vs Tehachapi STATISTICS
BCHS THS First Downs N/A 6 Rushes-Yards 37-110 33-324 Passing Yards 91 108 Comp-Att-Int 9-21-2 4-6-1 Total Yards 201 432 Punts N/A N/A Fumbles-Lost N/A N/A Penalties N/A 3-40
Individual Statistics:
RUSHING - Tehachapi, Lorenz 10-59, Strauss 7-39, Mullen 5-208, Ochsenrider 1-9, Clark 5-3, Loli 3-5; BCHS, Taylor 20-77, Peterson 13-23, Garrett 2-8.
PASSING - Tehachapi, Ochsenrider 4-5-0-108, Knudsen 0-1-1, BCHS J. Peterson 9-21-2-91
RECEIVING - Tehachapi, Lorenz 2-35, Rodriguez 1-71, Strauss 1-2; BCHS, Herrron 4-36, Hough 3-45, Illingsworth 1-12, Taylor 1-2.
Varsity Records: Tehachapi 5-0 (9-1), BCHS 3-2 (8-2)
JV — Tehachapi 33, BCHS 28
Frosh – Tehachapi 35, BCHS 0
Week 10 SSL Scoreboard:
Tehachapi 41 BCHS 7
Taft 27 Arvin 0
Wasco 28 Shafter 12